Monthly Archives: July 2012

Ellie Moore, the protagonist in Carol Cox’s novel Love In Disguise, finds herself unemployed and on the verge of being homeless in the winter of 1882 in Chicago. Her possessions are few-consisting of a trunk filled with the wardrobe that once belonged to her former employer who was a vain and selfish actress. Ellie’s only work experience was that of theater wardrobe mistress. A chance encounter and an overheard conversation leads to her applying for a position within the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Even though she is initially rejected because of her total lack of experience in the sleuthing business, she uses her theatrical skills to land the job and she is off to the Arizona Territory to investigate a case.
From the start much goes wrong. Ellie is assigned to work with a seasoned female Pinkerton detective. However, upon meeting her supposed partner the woman tells Ellie that she won’t be accompanying her to Arizona. Instead, she is going on her honeymoon in New York. Ellie is shocked by the news that she is on her own. It is imperative that Ellie solves this case as she needs to prove herself to the Pinkerton people. Desperate times call for desperate measures as well as creativity. Thanks to contents of her wardrobe trunk, Ellie morphs herself into two diversely different women in order to conduct her investigation . As for the results, you have to read the book.
This novel has it all. There is tension, suspense, humor, romance and elements of faith. The characters are well developed and I found the story totally believable. I recommend reading this book.
I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishing and I give this review of my own free will.

The year was 1863 and the place was Texas. Tracie Peterson’s historical novel opens with Hannah Dandridge being told by her father’s business partner, the lecherous Herbert Lockhart, that her father had been taken prisoner by the Union army. She does not understand the reason for this and as it turns out, there was no reason. Hannah’ s life had been full of sorrows. Her mother died when Hannah and her brother were young. Her father remarried and his second wife died while giving birth, leaving him with two young children. Grief stricken, he moved the family from Vicksburg, Mississippee to Texas. Her father made it clear to Hannah that she was to take care of her younger sister and brother. He even went so far as to end her engagement. The war took the lives of her brother, grandfather and her former fiancée. Now, five years after having left Vicksburg and with her father missing she became the sole caregiver of two young children. A year prior to his disappearance the family moved to the Barnett Ranch- a ranch that had been seized by the government because the Barnett men had joined the Union army. However, the one surviving Barnett was unaware of this and returned to the ranch to find Hannah and her family in residence. Added to all this, the Comanche were attacking the settlers.

The lives of Hannah, Lockhart, William Barnett and some members of the Comanche tribe intersect. Once Barnett returned to the ranch he went to the courts to try to get it back in his name. Hannah needed to find a way to take care of her sibling should they be forced to leave their home. Chasing The Sun is the story of their relationships . The author brings to life the cast of characters. Hannah was a strong woman with deep faith. William Barnett bore both physical and psychological scars of war. Lockhart had no redeeming characteristics and personified evil.

The author presents a vivid picture of how difficult life was during a difficult time in history. Through the words of the richly developed characters comes a story of survival, conviction, sacrifice, honor and love. I recommend reading this book.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House and I give this review of my own free will.

That Day In September by Artie Van Why
Van Hughes Publishing ISBN 978-1-4116-8315-0

Everything changed September 11,2001. The resulting pain and anguish will remain immeasurable. To watch the horror of the events of that day on TV was one thing. To have watched them first hand is another story. That Day in September written by Artie Van Why is his story of what happened that day and of the impact it left on him.

Mr. Van Why moved to New York City in 1977 with hopes of becoming an actor. After years of working temp jobs he took a full time job with a firm that eventually merged with another firm. The merger led to a move that changed his work place to a building across the street from the World Trade Center. He came to love the World Trade Center. He drank his morning coffee while sitting on a bench close to the fountain. Lunch time outside gave him the opportunity to watch the ongoing theater. There were summer concerts and people danced. All that changed September 11, 2001. He writes ” I don’t remember which came first, the shudder of the buildings or the loud sound. They probably came at the same time.” Mr. Van Why then describes in vivid detail what he saw once he came outside. People were jumping from the North Tower. The ground was covered with wreckage, glass and paper. Then the second plane struck the South Tower. Chaos and panic continued. He was able to make his way to Midtown where he lived. He describes the walk home: “A mass of silent humanity walking together.” He slept with a light on that first night. He couldn’t watch replays of the horrors of the day. He had seen it for himself. He eloquently explains what it was like to be in New York City after September 11,2011.

This is a beautifully written book which encompasses so much emotion and insight that it is often heart wrenching to read. With incredible inner strength he manages to cope but thinks of the events of that day every day. He pays tribute to those who died and to those who tried to help save them. This is a moving book and can be read over and over.
I received this book free of charge from Review the Book and I give this review of my own free will.

Dr. Vickery’s prologue of his biography of Andrew Jackson, Jackson The Iron Willed Commander, begins with a description of the day of Jackson’s inauguration as the seventh President of the United States. On March 4, 1829 history was made. Jackson was a southerner from humble beginnings . His achievements and accomplishments are legendary. And so, on this date a man of the people took office and thousands came to celebrate the occasion. Dr. Vickery work puts forth the history of Jackson’s life based on information from a variety of sources.

“The early life of Andrew Jackson was marked by sorrow, hardship and poverty”. His father died before he was born. He was raised by his mother and she saw to his education. However, he was not a stellar student . He was not known for being well read and his spelling was creative- to say the least. What he lacked in these areas he more than made up for in others. He understood people and was assertive. He was passionate and he was well known for his swearing. He was thirteen years old when he became a messenger for Major William Davie during American Revolution. By the time he was fifteen he had already been taken prisoner, survived smallpox, became an orphan and lost his brothers. These tragedies are in part the foundation that he used to build and develop his strengths which included tolerating pain and dealing with grief. He taught himself to overcome adversity . He believed sacrifice was necessary in the quest for freedom and he would require it of those who served under him as well as of himself. His military career included fighting in the War of 1812 where he fought the Creek Indians as well as his amazing prowess in New Orleans against the British. Loyalty to his troops and his motivational skills added to his many other leadership qualities. His troops loved him. Even though he had practiced law and served as a judge, it was his military career that defined him. Just as important as his love of freedom and country was his love of his wife , Rachel. He remained protective and devoted to her for her entire life.

Dr. Vickery has successfully written an excellent biography of Andrew Jackson. I found it to be objective and easy to read. Andrew Jackson’s story is both motivational and inspiring. He is perhaps one of the most fascinating United State’s Presidents. I highly recommend reading this book. There is a great deal to learn from doing so.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”